Www.cysanorth.orgYouth Soccer Myths Presented by: John Murphy CYSA Chairman of the Board [email protected]

www.cysanorth.orgwww.cysanorth.org Youth Soccer MythsYouth Soccer Myths

Youth Soccer MythsYouth Soccer Myths

Presented by: John MurphyPresented by: John Murphy

CYSA Chairman of the BoardCYSA Chairman of the Board

[email protected]@cysanorth.org


Youth Soccer Youth Soccer MythsMyths

A “myth” is a popular belief A “myth” is a popular belief that has grown up around that has grown up around

something something

OrOr

Something that has an Something that has an unverifiable existenceunverifiable existence

George Washington & the George Washington & the Cherry Tree Cherry Tree


Problems with MythsProblems with Myths

Maybe strongly held emotionally Maybe strongly held emotionally based beliefsbased beliefs

Often partially true with part that Often partially true with part that is true extrapolated to extreme is true extrapolated to extreme and unwarranted conclusionsand unwarranted conclusions

Often involve false syllogismsOften involve false syllogisms


Discussing can be dangerous Discussing can be dangerous because of the emotionalism that because of the emotionalism that may have attachedmay have attached

““There is nothing more horrible than There is nothing more horrible than the murder of a beautiful theory by a the murder of a beautiful theory by a brutal gang of facts”brutal gang of facts”

Why discuss?Why discuss?– Reality will not go away and eventually Reality will not go away and eventually

will prevailwill prevail– Information enables people to make Information enables people to make

better decisions better decisions


We will examine two myths that We will examine two myths that are very, very common in youth are very, very common in youth soccer todaysoccer today

First, that children should First, that children should specialize early in one sport and specialize early in one sport and have intensive traininghave intensive training

Second, scholarships are Second, scholarships are plentifulplentiful


Children should Specialize Children should Specialize EarlyEarly

How many times have you heard that How many times have you heard that child must start and dedicate himself or child must start and dedicate himself or herself to soccer by age 8 or even age herself to soccer by age 8 or even age 7? 7?

– Sounds logical – more do something better Sounds logical – more do something better

get – “practice makes perfect”get – “practice makes perfect” BUT maybe kids are more than just short adultsBUT maybe kids are more than just short adults

– Plays on fear of being “left behind”Plays on fear of being “left behind”


How Accurate an Idea?How Accurate an Idea?

““Children are encouraged to Children are encouraged to participate in sports at a level participate in sports at a level consistent with their abilities and consistent with their abilities and interests. Pushing children beyond interests. Pushing children beyond these limits is discouraged as is these limits is discouraged as is specialization in a single sport before specialization in a single sport before adolescence.”adolescence.”

– American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics, Intensive Intensive Training and Sport Specialization in Youth AthletesTraining and Sport Specialization in Youth Athletes


““Research supports the Research supports the recommendation that child athletes recommendation that child athletes avoid early sports specialization. Those avoid early sports specialization. Those who participate in a variety of sports who participate in a variety of sports and specialize only after reaching the and specialize only after reaching the age of puberty tend to be more age of puberty tend to be more consistent performers, have fewer consistent performers, have fewer injuries, and adhere to sports play injuries, and adhere to sports play longer than those who specialize early.”longer than those who specialize early.”

– American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics, Intensive Training Intensive Training and Sport Specialization in Youth Athletesand Sport Specialization in Youth Athletes


Center for Sports Parenting, Center for Sports Parenting, Top Top Ten Sports Parenting MythsTen Sports Parenting Myths

Myth: “The sooner your child Myth: “The sooner your child specializes in just one sport, the specializes in just one sport, the better chance they have of better chance they have of advancing to higher level (e.g., advancing to higher level (e.g., college, professional ranks).”college, professional ranks).”


Center for Sports Parenting, Center for Sports Parenting, Top Top Ten Sports Parenting MythsTen Sports Parenting Myths

Response: Some coaches pressure kids to Response: Some coaches pressure kids to play just one sport. As a parent, you play just one sport. As a parent, you should be wary of this! In addition to should be wary of this! In addition to burnout worries, ask yourself, ‘how does burnout worries, ask yourself, ‘how does your child know which sport will be his/her your child know which sport will be his/her best one, unless they try a bunch of best one, unless they try a bunch of different sports?’ When they are young, different sports?’ When they are young, let them try a bunch of sports.”let them try a bunch of sports.”


Hedstrom & Gould, Research in Hedstrom & Gould, Research in Youth Sports: Critical Issues Status, Youth Sports: Critical Issues Status, Youth Sports: Talent Development Youth Sports: Talent Development and Sports Specialization and Sports Specialization (2004) (2004)

Studies of highly successful athletes Studies of highly successful athletes show three phasesshow three phases– 1. “Romance phase” ages 6-131. “Romance phase” ages 6-13– 2. “Precision phase” ages 13-152. “Precision phase” ages 13-15– 3. “Integration phase” ages 15 and 3. “Integration phase” ages 15 and

olderolder


Romance phase – child participates in Romance phase – child participates in multiple sports for FUNmultiple sports for FUN

Precision phase – focus on limited Precision phase – focus on limited number of sportsnumber of sports

Integration phase – deliberate Integration phase – deliberate practice in an effort to pursue practice in an effort to pursue performance excellenceperformance excellence– Phases are sequential without skipping Phases are sequential without skipping

anyany


Citizenship Through Sports Citizenship Through Sports Alliance, 2005 Youth Sports Alliance, 2005 Youth Sports

National Report CardNational Report Card

Grade of “D” in area of “Child Grade of “D” in area of “Child Centered PhilosophyCentered Philosophy– Youth sports leaders, parents and Youth sports leaders, parents and

coaches put the goal of children – fun, coaches put the goal of children – fun, friends, fitness, participation and skill friends, fitness, participation and skill development – firstdevelopment – first

UnacceptableUnacceptable


League leaders, parents and coaches League leaders, parents and coaches understand the dangers of early sports understand the dangers of early sports specializationspecialization

Needs ImprovementNeeds Improvement

Youth sports leaders set expectations Youth sports leaders set expectations and hold parents, coaches and and hold parents, coaches and themselves accountable for themselves accountable for sportsmanship, civility and commitment sportsmanship, civility and commitment to child-centered philosophyto child-centered philosophy

UnacceptableUnacceptable


Specialization when young does not workSpecialization when young does not work ““Concerns voiced in response to Concerns voiced in response to

specialization include the fact that specialization include the fact that athletic performance at one age in athletic performance at one age in childhood does not accurately predict childhood does not accurately predict performance at a later age.” (Hedstrom performance at a later age.” (Hedstrom & Gould, & Gould, suprasupra.).)

““There is very little predictive value when There is very little predictive value when it comes to saying an 8 year-old will grow it comes to saying an 8 year-old will grow to be a superior athlete when they’re to be a superior athlete when they’re 18.” (Center for Sports Parenting, 18.” (Center for Sports Parenting, suprasupra.) .)


Studies of the practice in former Studies of the practice in former Soviet Union “showed early sport Soviet Union “showed early sport specialization did not lead to the specialization did not lead to the performance advantages people performance advantages people thought, and in fact, there was an thought, and in fact, there was an advantage to early sport advantage to early sport diversification.” (Hedstrom & Gould, diversification.” (Hedstrom & Gould, suprasupra))


Other significant considerationsOther significant considerations

Overuse injuriesOveruse injuries– ““. . . one factor was repeatedly cited as . . . one factor was repeatedly cited as

the prime cause for the outbreak in the prime cause for the outbreak in overuse injuries among young athletes: overuse injuries among young athletes: specialization in one sport at an early specialization in one sport at an early age and they year-round, almost manic age and they year-round, almost manic training for it that often follows.”training for it that often follows.” New York Times, February 23, 2005, New York Times, February 23, 2005, Old Old

Before their time: Overuse injuries afflict Before their time: Overuse injuries afflict the youngthe young


BurnoutBurnout

75% quit before age 1375% quit before age 13

Between 1990 and 2002 number of Between 1990 and 2002 number of youth in United States youth in United States increasedincreased by by more than 7 millionmore than 7 million– Number of soccer players during same Number of soccer players during same

period period decreaseddecreased by approximately 1 by approximately 1 millionmillion

– U.S. News & World Report, June 7, 2004, p. 48U.S. News & World Report, June 7, 2004, p. 48


ScholarshipsScholarships

Good news is they really do exist!!!Good news is they really do exist!!!

ProblemsProblems– No where near as available as what No where near as available as what

people are led to believe people are led to believe – A lot of hype from various quarters A lot of hype from various quarters

about them about them Great Marketing Tool for someGreat Marketing Tool for some


Some Information RegardingSome Information Regarding

a. The numbersa. The numbers– 1. 500,000 high school soccer players1. 500,000 high school soccer players– 2. 150,000 seniors2. 150,000 seniors– 3. 15,000 roster positions3. 15,000 roster positions– 4. 5% of roster positions receive 4. 5% of roster positions receive anyany

assistanceassistance

b. Translates to approximately 750 b. Translates to approximately 750 scholarships scholarships


Applied to CYSAApplied to CYSA

Approximately 8,900 17 and 18 year Approximately 8,900 17 and 18 year old players in 2005old players in 2005

750 scholarships means is 8.5% of 750 scholarships means is 8.5% of CYSA players in these age groupsCYSA players in these age groups


But CYSA players are only part of the But CYSA players are only part of the “pool” competing for scholarships“pool” competing for scholarships– CYSA has approximately 7.5% of United CYSA has approximately 7.5% of United

States Youth Soccer (USYS) registered States Youth Soccer (USYS) registered playersplayers

– Estimate USYS 120,000 players in same Estimate USYS 120,000 players in same age groupsage groups Approximately 6% could get scholarshipsApproximately 6% could get scholarships CYSA is 7.5% of the 6%CYSA is 7.5% of the 6% USYS not only source of players in poolUSYS not only source of players in pool

Very, very few are “full ride”Very, very few are “full ride”


October 2005, San Francisco October 2005, San Francisco Chronicle Feature Article on “the Chronicle Feature Article on “the myth of the full ride”myth of the full ride”

““Folks, you might want to take a seat Folks, you might want to take a seat in one of those well-used lawn chairs in one of those well-used lawn chairs and listen up: Your kid has a better and listen up: Your kid has a better shot at a perfect SAT score.”shot at a perfect SAT score.”


Bay Area Division I Bay Area Division I SchoolsSchools

MEN (9.9 scholarships a team of 24-26 players & 5 MEN (9.9 scholarships a team of 24-26 players & 5 places per year)places per year)

TotalTotal 161 total161 totalFullFull 7 7 Partial*Partial* 107 (can be $400 - $500)107 (can be $400 - $500)NoneNone 4747

SchoolSchool TotalTotal FullFull PartialPartial Walk-Walk-onsons

CalCal 2727 00 2727 00 St. Mary’sSt. Mary’s 2626 00 16-1816-18 8-108-10 USFUSF 3030 22 2424 44 San Jose StateSan Jose State 2525 22 1212 1111 Santa ClaraSanta Clara 2828 33 2020 55 StanfordStanford 2525 00 15-2015-20 5-105-10


Bay Area Division I Bay Area Division I SchoolsSchools

Women (12 scholarships per team)Women (12 scholarships per team)TotalTotal 138138FullFull 9 9 Partial* Partial* 101 (can be $400-$500)101 (can be $400-$500)NoneNone 2828

SchoolSchool TotalTotal FullFull PartialPartial Walk-Walk-onsons

CalCal 3131 00 3030 11 St. Mary’s St. Mary’s 21 21 NANA NANA NANA USFUSF 2727 1-31-3 16-1816-18 88 San Jose StateSan Jose State 3030 00 2525 55 Santa ClaraSanta Clara 2626 22 1616 88 StanfordStanford 2424 22 1616 66


Academics CountAcademics Count

If player does not meet school’s If player does not meet school’s academic requirements it does not academic requirements it does not matter how good of soccer player matter how good of soccer player they arethey are– Problem of players shunning difficult Problem of players shunning difficult

courses tocourses to Satisfy demands of travel and competitive Satisfy demands of travel and competitive

soccersoccer Keep high grade point averageKeep high grade point average


“ “For some kids and parents, the For some kids and parents, the scholarship is the final payoff. If you scholarship is the final payoff. If you look at it as the payoff for the look at it as the payoff for the investment you’ve made on youth investment you’ve made on youth soccer – all the trips, the hotels, the soccer – all the trips, the hotels, the club fees, the equipment – that’s the club fees, the equipment – that’s the wrong approach. The payoff is to wrong approach. The payoff is to have a healthy, happy, well-rounded have a healthy, happy, well-rounded child. If there’s a scholarship, let child. If there’s a scholarship, let that be the icing on the cake.” that be the icing on the cake.”

Santa Clara Women’s Coach Jerry Smith, Santa Clara Women’s Coach Jerry Smith, quoted in San Francisco Chronicle October quoted in San Francisco Chronicle October 30, 200530, 2005

Documents

Www.cysanorth.orgYouth Soccer Myths Presented by: John Murphy CYSA Chairman of the Board [email protected]